Solved - MJW #1126 - RE-Ford Special 1969

[woodinsight]

Name this sports racer, the engine it used and the year it was built for a point.

[woodinsight]

Up a level

[woodinsight]

Clue time - in its existence, this car carried three different names.
The puzzle car is shown racing under its second name.

[mekubb]

Any Lotus Super Seven connection ?

[targhediferro]

Ford 1172cc mechanics?

[woodinsight]

No Lotus connection but it is Ford-engined.
I don't know the size though and doubt if it's 1172cc.

[nicanary]

So it'll be a V8 Flathead then?

[woodinsight]

So it'll be a V8 Flathead then?

Almost certain that it's not a V8 - more likely to be a 4cyl 1300 or 1600.
The class this car was raced in was inspired originally by the Lotus Seven but the car in question has no Lotus parts as far as I'm aware.

[nicanary]

Images are hard to come by. It's a Clubmans Formula car, powered either by a 1300 or 1600 Ford engine - the formula started in 1965 IIRC. There were a few one-offs, although most entrants used Lotus 7 or U2 cars.

Lynx?

[woodinsight]

Images are hard to come by. It's a Clubmans Formula car, powered either by a 1300 or 1600 Ford engine - the formula started in 1965 IIRC. There were a few one-offs, although most entrants used Lotus 7 or U2 cars.

Lynx?

It's not a Lynx....
It !s a Clubmans Class car but to save you searching in the wrong area - it's not in the UK....

[D-type]

South African?

[woodinsight]

South African?

Not South African

[woodinsight]

Perhaps a Pro knows?

[D-type]

As it's not South Africa, it's not the car I had in mind.   

Is it Australian? 

[woodinsight]

As it's not South Africa, it's not the car I had in mind.   

Is it Australian? 

Yes it's Australian!

[nicanary]

I have found three photographs of this car at Caversham Raceway, entitled simply "the 60s". It is known as the Pegasus Special, with a Ford engine, but engine size is not quoted, nor the year of build. Since at this time in history the Australian racing scene was still to some extent relying on outdated machinery, I reckon the engine was still a 1500cc pushrod, rather than a later 1300/1600 affair.

[woodinsight]

I have found three photographs of this car at Caversham Raceway, entitled simply "the 60s". It is known as the Pegasus Special, with a Ford engine, but engine size is not quoted, nor the year of build. Since at this time in history the Australian racing scene was still to some extent relying on outdated machinery, I reckon the engine was still a 1500cc pushrod, rather than a later 1300/1600 affair.

Yes, you've found the car in its previous incarnation as the Pegasus Special.
However, the puzzle car is the same car with a different name after it changed hands.
I'm going to LOCK it for you to see if you can dig out its name in the photo.

As a clue it was sold again and then had the third name Piper Special.

[nicanary]

This is getting confusing. I have just found that very same photograph accompanying a post by one Warren Matthews from 2007 which claims that is his old car which he ran as an RE-Ford. He says in the post (on TNF under Australian Constructors) that the car was built by Don Hall for John Piper, before being bought and renamed by Matthews. He has found the car recently and his son is restoring it although the body built by Peter Lyon is missing.

So unless I misunderstood your timeframe, there is a fourth owner. Matthews claimed that he won the car's last race at Caversham. It had a nickname - Taffy.

(Pegasus - ?? - Piper - RE )

[woodinsight]

This is getting confusing. I have just found that very same photograph accompanying a post by one Warren Matthews from 2007 which claims that is his old car which he ran as an RE-Ford. He says in the post (on TNF under Australian Constructors) that the car was built by Don Hall for John Piper, before being bought and renamed by Matthews. He has found the car recently and his son is restoring it although the body built by Peter Lyon is missing.

So unless I misunderstood your timeframe, there is a fourth owner. Matthews claimed that he won the car's last race at Caversham. It had a nickname - Taffy.

(Pegasus - ?? - Piper - RE )

Yes, that's the name I was looking for - RE-Ford.

I had it as originally built as Pegasus, then RE-Ford and then Piper.
Clearly my history of the car was incorrect in the naming sequence.

Anyway - another point for you....